At the 2024 London Whisky Show, we had such fun at the Compass Box stand. They were back in 2025 – so we had to stop by!
Now the secret of thriving at Whisky Shows is to pass over more than you pick! So, when we looked at the line-up at Compass Box, we knew we had to make a tough call – skip more than sip!
It was a popular stand – for good reason! Always having an eye for a creative design aesthetic, this was on a royal scale!
What did we focus on this year?
- Hedonism 2025 46% – GBP 85
- Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition (2024) 48% – 2025 Whisky Show GBP 130
- Brûlée Royal 2025 49% – 2025 Whisky Show GBP 106
- Metropolis (Sep 2023) 49% (Compass Box – Extinct Blends Quartet) – GBP 270
Let’s get on with the tasting, shall we? Spoiler alert! The Brûlée Royal was my top pick!
Hedonism is one of those whiskies that gets a polarised reaction. People either love it or don’t. What you have to understand upfront is that this is a blended grain, with no malt whisky. This requires some recalibration of expectations.
My first experience with Hedonism more than a decade ago was mixed – I simply couldn’t get past a pronounced coconut oil! A few years later, I most associated piña colada with an edition, likely from around 2016 / 2017! Then came a chance to try their 15th anniversary edition – I found it more interesting, yet I was still not entirely convinced.
Fast forward to the 2025 / 25th anniversary edition. What did we think?
Well hello! It was incredibly approachable on the nose – bananas, caramel, cream, and a bit of coconut there too! The best was the palate – it was an easy-drinking whisky, balanced and fun. Nothing off, just fresh, sweet, smooth, and enjoyable.
The story behind this edition goes:
Created as our first whisky in 2000, Hedonism has always defied convetion. It pays homage to the tradition of grain whisky distillation in Scotland, while pushing the boundaries of Scotch.
The Hedonism label has always proudly featured the image of a woman – something Scotch whisky had never done before, so for each annual release we commission a different female artist to bring to life the strength that our original label illustration represented. This year, for our second release, Argentinian artist Sofia Bonati, who creates striking female portraits that invite you into a dreamlike world, has reimagined the Hedonism woman once again.
The Compass Box folks describe this special 25th anniversary edition as:
Initial waves of caramel and powdered sugar, leading into a heart of pure peach puree, cocoa and pear. Chocolate mousse arrives on the palate, joined by nutmeg-inflected custard and cinnamon. The finish freshens to white grape, Fuji apple and vanilla.
What went into this blend? Though all grains, it is also a blend of older Hedonism too! Cameronbridge (46.7% 1st fill bourbon, another 1st fill bourbon 11.6%, 1st fill Marsala Barrique 2.8%), Hedonism vatted in 2022 (11.9%), Hedonism vatted in 2023 (16.9), Girvan (10.1%). Curious to know more? Check out their Factsheet with all the details!
Flaming Heart 25th Anniversary Edition (2024) 48%
Over the years, we’ve had a chance to sample their Flaming Heart 7th Edition and 15th Anniversary expressions. So what about the latest 25th Anniversary dram – their 8th edition?
Wow! This is indeed a departure! This is full-on peat with a big meaty nose, loads of peat and spice on the palate, finishing with even more peat and sweetness. This is no shy, retiring, nuanced dram. It is fun and fabulous, confident in its rocking character!
Their description of its flavour profile is:
Rich, oily smoke appears on the nose, supported by zingy spice. Hints of raspberry and apricot encircled by impressions of tarry rope. The palate is immediately dense as spices like clove, pink and black pepper and nutmeg arrive. Medicinal peat notes duke it out with bright and winey fruit. Finally, concentrated smoke that is at once woody and ashy with menthol and citrus oils.
This blend has a primary focus on peat with Talisker (48.1%), Benrinnes (35.5%), Williamson Islay Malt Blend (13.4%%), and a bit of Laphroaig (3%). Do check out their Factsheet full of more info!
This was the new avatar – inspired by the Palace of Versailles chef François Massialot, who wrote in his 1691 cookbook Cuisinier royal et bourgeois a recipe for what became known as crème brûlée. The whole theme of the Compass Box booth this year was a nod to royal opulence!
Whilst we had a mere sniff and swish, we remarked that this was one deliberately delicious dessert-styled dram! We thoroughly enjoyed the burnt caramel aromas, with the palate fun and creamy, and the finish nicely closing the experience.
Compass Box’s official tasting notes share:
Immediate Crème Brulée, which opens to custard Danish and scorched sugar brittles. The palate is thick with clotted cream, honeyed malt and broiled peaches followed by custard & Tarte Tatin. Pannacotta & gentle nutmeg spice followed by silken jersey milk, toasted sugar and banana split.
This is a vatted malt with Benrinnes (53.3%), Clynelish (39%), Speyburn (7.2%), and a touch of Ardbeg (0.5%). Whisky geeks should check out their Fact Sheet for more details!
Metropolis (Sep 2023) 49% (Compass Box – Extinct Blends Quartet)
We closed with the 3rd expression from their Extinct Blends Quartet. The idea here is to bring to our palate a time capsule. As I’ve also experienced, blends of earlier decades differ greatly from what is produced today.
We found it big, bold, yet balanced. Bursting with both pitted and tropical fruits, it was both lush and fresh, rich and rewarding. The finish was long and strong.
Their tasting notes:
Vanilla arrives first on the nose, followed by a medley of different honeys. Fudge, apricot and pineapple lead to fresh fig. A rich and very complex palate with sultana, apricot again and hints of smoky woodiness. A long and sweet finish, with a pleasing weight.
With Metropolis, the focus is on the urban of yesteryear. What more do we know?
Metropolis uses some of our rarest and most mature stocks. It centres around nutty and biscuity single malt from the Aberlour Distillery, aged in re-charred American oak barrels. This is supported by citrusy and vanilla-accented single malt from the Miltonduff Distillery. A blended grain parcel and a hint of herbal smoke courtesy of malt whisky from the Bowmore Distillery complete the complex recipe.
Our whisky guide shared that the Bowmore stock was more than 20 years old! For more details, check out their Fact Sheet.
And there you have it! Quite a range this year. Whilst my favourite was the Brûlée Royal, I really enjoyed the opportunity to try the Metropolis. The Flaming Heart shift in character to full peat was a departure, but it worked. The biggest surprise? How much we enjoyed the Hedonism!
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